At 660 with huge quant/verbal split

[cjcrysta]

I've taken the GMAT once so far (630 - 54th percentile in quant/75th in verbal). I'm aiming for at least a 680.

On Saturday I took my 5th practice exam in real conditions (including IR and writing) and I scored 660 - 44th percentile in quant/96th percentile in verbal). On a practice exam, 44th percentile in quant is my top score. I feel a little like I've plateaued in quant, but I still have two weeks to prepare for my next exam and I'd like to continue trying to boost that quant score (and maintaining my verbal score).

Based on the results of my last two CATs, I can see clearly that I am weak in FDPs and Algebraic Translations (and word problems in general). I also could use some work with exponents and roots, inequalities, statistics, polygons, and digits and decimals. My other major weakness is timing. I get drawn into problems I know I can do if I have a little more time (which I won't ever have!). I know I'm a little weak in coordinate planes, combinatorics, probablility, and odds & evens. As you've recommended to me before, I want to get better and getting those wrong faster and moving on to the topics that come up more frequently on the exam (like the ones I've listed above to study). I'm going to review the problems on the CAT so I can be better at recognizing them.

My plan is to sit with each topic that I think needs work: FDPs, Algebraic Translations, exponents & roots, inequalities, statistics, polygons, and digits & decimals, thoroughly review those problems that were on my CATs 4 & 5, and dig into the books on places where I'm still weak... and do some fundmentals drills when I'm feeling particularly weak. I'm also planning on reading (digesting?) the articles you sent me last week regarding those topics. Next Sunday I'll take another (my last) CAT. Does this seem like a good way to approach this stuff? Am I trying to tackle too much in a week?

I haven't really analyzed my verbal CAT thoroughly yet, but my plan there is to thoroughly review those topics that I did slowly, quickly, and/or incorrectly, and dig into the applicable book in the places where I'm weaker.

This morning I started with Algebraic Translations. I think my problem with Algebraic Translations is that I'm just really slow, and I know it... so when I see them on the exam I more or less skip it. Unfortunately there are a lot of Algebraic Translations problems on the exam :) so skipping is probably not a great strategy. Do you have any tips on how I can do these problems faster and more efficiently?

[cdsanders]

I feel like for everything but geometry, you are better off studying the concepts.

The best take-away I have ever taken from any course was from empowerGMAT. Triage 3 questions in verbal and quantitative. That means when you see a hard question that you look at and think oh my this is going to take a while, look for answers that correspond in some way shape or form with the question, clash those answers, guess and move on. Also, look at things like where you are missing questions and why (from a mental standpoint). I literally went from 630 to 770 overnight by determining when to take micro breaks, triaging questions, and actually analyzing my CATs. Two questions that I recognized to "dump" or "triage" were mixture and combination/permutation questions.

[truont321]

I would recommend that you go over in depth the strategy guides for your weakness area in quant and practice the OG problems in the appendix. I also found that the labs for quant were great to review before test day

[StaceyKoprince]

The single biggest thing that's going to help you is making better decisions about how you're spending your time. :)

You likely already have a higher ability in quant, but this timing issue is costing you points. In two weeks, you're not going to get better at all of the areas you listed, but you can learn to let go faster and that will allow you to earn points that you already know how to get (but are missing due to rushing / timing issues).

Next, yes, you're trying to do too much in one week. Your goal is not to get everything right. Your goal is to figure out which areas are most worth your time and concentrate on those. Of the topics you listed, the ones that tend to show up the most are:
- word / story problems in general, particularly the ones that require you to write equations / do algebra or work with fractions and percents
- exponents
- regular statistics (mean, median - don't worry about more advanced topics)

Concentrate on those areas AND on letting go when questions are too hard (including when they're just going to take too long). That will ensure that you don't lose too many points on things that you actually do already know how to do! (But miss because you're rushing as the test goes on...)

Don't forget that part of "getting better" is learning how and when to make a guess - don't just study how to get stuff right. :)

Have you looked at this article yet for translations? Start here!
https://www.manhattangmat.com/blog/inde ... them-real/

For verbal, continue to practice / keep your skills up - but you don't need to spend as much time there. :)